Back in May 1995, I had the honor of taking a ride in the Collings foundation B24. The location we flew from was the Torrance Municipal Airport (near LAX, Southern California) and we flew over the annual armed forces day parade, with their B17. The pics are in my album. Feel free to ask me anything about my impressions in flying in the sole surviving flyable B24.
That is the worst place to ride in. The nose turret takes up a lot of room and completely blocks the forward view. So unless laying on your belly to view the world as the bombardier saw it sounds exciting (and it wasn't for me), then I wouldn't recommend it. BTW, the nose turret was off limits, so I suppose it would be great place to sit. We were allowed to sit in the rear turret, and I can tell you it certainly was a comfortable ride back there. Eventually, we all ended up congregating at the waist gun positions, and it turned out to be a good place to view things.
Hey TA! They had one of these rides available in Fla last year, I didn't go because they strapped you in and nobody was allowed to move around, and you could barely see out of the window!!
Anyone have a listing of available air shows or rides like this in the coming year. Listed by state perhaps?
The Collings Foundation - Preserving Living Aviation History for Future Generations Planes of Fame Air Museum - Official Site
The ball turret is off limits for lots of reasons. And unless youre young enough to not be bothered to be a contortionist, why bother. Though I must admit it would be a neat view of the world.
Yeah, I figured it would be. How high up did you go? I'd want to go to just high enough to get the gist of how cold it is up there.
I dont think we went higher than 1000ft. Over the land, we were at the FAA minimum. When we approached the coast, I think we climbed up to 1000 ft to head over to Catalina Island, and started a slow descent to 500 ft or so when we reached the island. But on the return leg, from Catalina back to Torrance .... while over the ocean .... WE DROPPED TO 50 FEET!!!!!!!! DAMN IF THAT WASNT SOMETHING TO EXPERIENCE ..... I FELT LIKE ONE OF THE GUNNERS IN THE PLOESTI RAID OR IN THE SW PACIFIC HUNTING JAPANESE SHIPPING. TO TOP IT OFF, WE PASSED NEAR A SAILBOAT, AND THE PEOPLE ON BOARD LOOKED ABSOLUTELY STUNNED TO SEE A B24 AND B17 ON THE DECK, AT 170MPH!!!!
interesting Sys about the tail position as for both the Fort and the Lib when they visited us 3 years in a row in the 90's the tail position were strictly verboten whether on the spendy rides or when parked for the locals viewing pleasure. all I can say to the forum members if you ever have chance to view history here they are......go see them, maybe you will understand just an inkling but not too much of what B17Sam went through and has added to these forums I remember one visit to our small local airfield and the B-24 was coming in piloted by a good friend of the 44th bg. He did a big NO-NO and buzzed the field with that bird...... inspiring the local crowds with a masse of cheers and hand waving. When he landed, he got out and was all smiles and thumbs up - - priceless !
Diamond Lil was a LB-30. The Collings Foundations B24 also has the distinction of being a true WW2 combat veteran .... served with the RAF in India and went on a few missions over to Burma.
As far as I am concerned the LB.30 is a B-24, if not, what is it? AM927 was to be allocated to 120 Squadron RAF Coastal Command in 1941 along with other B-24s (AM910 - AM929) to be modified to Coastal configuration, thus becoming the Mk.I Liberator. A crash at Kansas City prevented this happening. The fact that an aircraft serves in combat does not guarantee its name.
